Roberto builds bridges: Rival martial arts open to learning from each other

12:10 PM,
Mar. 18, 2014

Taught judo black belts: Purebred Jiu-Jitsu Guam lead instructor Stephen Roberto demonstrates a crucifix armbar on Mark Pangelinan. The crucifix armbar is one of the moves Roberto showed Tokai University judo students during a clinic held recently in Japan. Grant Wieman/Pacific Daily News/gwieman@guampdn.com

Written by

Grant Wieman
Pacific Daily News

Purebred Jiu-Jitsu Guam lead instructor Stephen Roberto, a black belt in his sport, recently was invited to a teach a ground-breaking clinic to the judo team at Tokai University in Japan.

The opportunity came about at the last minute, Roberto said, but it was too monumental to pass up.

"To be invited is unprecedented," Roberto said. "I got Facebook messages from all over the world for doing that. I'm not a judo black belt. For me to get invited as a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt made waves in the sport." ...